The escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is raising serious concerns about the safety of the Italian contingent present in the country. After the preemptive strike conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which involved about 100 fighter jets, tensions have again reached a peak. Hezbollah responded to this attack with a heavy bombardment of rockets and drones, unleashing chaos in northern Israel and increasing already high tensions in the region.
A critical situation that sees the Italian contingent with over 1,200 soldiers deployed as part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), running significant risks in the event of an escalation. Furthermore, the situation currently under careful supervision of the UN, does not directly involve only the Italian contingent deployed in the region, but also thousands of Italian civilians residing in Lebanon.
“The UN, in practice, is an organization that is severely limited in its actions, being mainly charged with carrying out deterrent and monitoring functions, such as controlling the “Blue Line” between Israel and Lebanon” – comments a soldier who was part of the Italian contingent in Lebanon.
What risks do Italian soldiers run?
“Wearing the UN blue helmet represents for the military a sort of guarantee of protection against direct attacks, symbolizing neutrality and the mission of peace. However, in high-tension contexts such as Lebanon, where the presence of armed groups and militias such as Hezbollah is constant, this symbolic protection can prove fragile. In the event of an imminent threat, the standard procedure requires the UN operating base in New York to immediately activate the bunker alarm. This protocol allows the personnel deployed in the field to be secured: each bunker has a responsible chief in charge of managing the emergency, verifying the presence of all the soldiers and quickly organizing the defense or evacuation, if necessary. In Lebanon, the main danger for the Italian military comes from the possibility of being used as targets by Hezbollah. This Shiite militia, well aware of the dynamics of asymmetric warfare, may try to exploit the presence of UN troops to trigger an incident and blame Israel, using the attack as a propaganda tool to influence public opinion both locally and internationally. In asymmetric warfare, the weaker side – in this case Hezbollah – often resorts to unconventional strategies to compensate for the disparity of force. Such strategies may include not only targeted attacks against UN forces, but also the use of propaganda to portray Israel as the aggressor, fueling anti-Israel sentiments and gaining political support. For the Italian military, this situation creates a climate of constant uncertainty and vulnerability, where the risk of being dragged into a conflict, even against their will, is ever-present. In this context, the safety of the Italian military depends not only on the preventive measures put in place by the UN, but also on their ability to operate prudently, maintaining neutrality and trying to avoid any direct involvement in hostilities. However, the reality on the ground can be unpredictable, and the risk that they may find themselves, against their will, drawn into an armed conflict remains a real threat.”
What can you tell us in detail?
«This demarcation line, known as the “Blue Line,” was established in 2006 following the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, when Israeli forces invaded Lebanon, pushing up to the outskirts of Beirut. The Blue Line represents not only a physical border, but also a fragile ceasefire line, constantly monitored to prevent an escalation of violence in the region. Whenever Israel plans a military operation, such as a preemptive strike against Hezbollah positions, it notifies the UN in advance. These attacks are conducted with extreme precision, aimed at hitting only strategic targets to minimize civilian casualties and limit collateral damage. However, tensions remain high, and the possibility of escalation is constantly present. In this context, Italy plays a leading role within the UN contingent. With approximately 1,200 soldiers deployed along the western stretch of the Blue Line, Italy is responsible for guarding the most strategic positions along the border. Italian soldiers are carefully monitoring every movement, ready to intervene if necessary to maintain peace and prevent new hostilities. Meanwhile, the UN air force, which also includes Italian assets, is tasked with controlling the so-called “third space” airspace along the Blue Line, monitoring from above to ensure there are no violations of the airspace and to provide support in case of emergency. Alongside the Italian soldiers, the Spanish contingent represents the second largest force within the mission, also contributing to the stability of the region. In addition, a second UN contingent operates in eastern Lebanon, expanding the international presence along the entire border to ensure continuous surveillance and rapid intervention in case of crisis. This complex peacekeeping operation is essential to prevent a new war between Israel and Hezbollah, but the situation remains tense, and the safety of the soldiers on the ground is always at risk”.
What can you tell us about the evacuation plan?
«It is a protocol similar to that adopted in other missions in which the military operation is planned and conducted by the Joint Operations Command (COVI) in Rome, through the Italian Joint Force Headquarters, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Crisis Unit (MAE-UC). This division performed an evacuation simulation in March 2023 of the 2,800 Italians working in Lebanon in the event of an invasion by Israel. The evacuation protocol adopted for Italian military and civilians abroad follows rigorous and well-defined standards, designed to ensure a rapid and organized response in the event of serious emergencies, such as armed conflicts or invasions. The evacuation plan includes a detailed protocol that allows leaving the crisis area within a maximum of 48 hours from the activation of the alert. This plan includes a series of operational phases, such as planning evacuation routes, preparing means of transport and coordinating with local and international authorities. Every Italian base abroad in risk areas, not only in Lebanon, has a similar evacuation procedure, adapted to specific local needs and circumstances. During a crisis, the Italian Joint Force Headquarters, together with the logistics support teams and diplomatic authorities, manage the entire process. This includes the activation of assembly centers for civilians and military personnel, the protection of extraction points and the organization of air and naval transport to safe territories. The plan also takes into account the needs for medical assistance and psychological support for evacuation participants. The simulation conducted in March 2023 was aimed at testing the effectiveness of these procedures in realistic scenarios, ensuring that all parties involved can operate in a synergic and timely manner. This exercise served to identify and resolve any gaps in the plan, improving overall preparedness for a possible emergency.
